Teenage Girl, iPhone Help Capture Suspected Burglars

RICHLAND HILLS (CBSDFW.COM) – A 14-year-old girl and an iPhone helped police capture two men suspected of breaking into and burglarizing her house on Monday in Richland Hills.

Investigators say the teenager was at home by herself when two Hispanic males knocked on the front door. She looked out and didn’t recognize the men, so she didn’t answer the door.

The suspects then kicked-in the back door and entered the house.

The girl retreated and hid in a house closet while the suspects stole various electronics, including iPods and an iPhone.

The men discovered the girl in the closet while looking for more items. When the men saw her, they cursed and ran out the door. 911 was called and officers arrived a short time later.

The victim was able to provide investigators with a detailed description of the suspects, their vehicle, and a partial license plate. Responding officers used an iPhone app to locate the stolen iPhone in the 2100 block of Jacksboro Hwy in Fort Worth. The Fort Worth Police Department was notified of the suspects’ position and detained three suspects at the scene.

Sgt. Nathan Stringer describes how iPhone was used to capture suspects

Chief Barbara Childress said, “Had it not been for the quick thinking of the victim in this case as well as the ingenuity of the responding officers, catching these criminals may have been very difficult.”

All three subjects are being held on $30,000 bonds for Burglary of a Habitation. The suspects are Adolfo Villeda, 18, Oziel Valazquez, 18, and Manuel Murillo, 17.